The official HTC bootloader unlocking tool is almost ready. HTC updated their Facebook page yesterday afternoon, revealing how the bootloader unlocking process will actually work. HTC will continue to ship all their phones with locked bootloaders, but will be offering a web-based tool for those who wish to have full control over their handsets. Below are the steps you’ll need to follow in order to unlock the bootloader on your HTC device.

Register an account with a valid e-mail address and accept legal disclaimers that unlocking may void all or parts of your warranty.

Install the Android SDK on your computer.

Plug in your phone to a computer with the Android SDK loaded to retrieve a device identifier token.

Enter the identification token into the Web tool to receive a unique unlock key via e-mail.

Apply the key to your device, and unlocking will be initiated on your phone.

HTC plans to make the web-based tool available later this month. The HTC Sensation Global will be the first phone to have access to the tool, followed by the HTC Sensation 4G and then the HTC EVO 3D. We have a feeling some of you may not be pleased with HTC’s decision to continue to ship phones with locked bootloaders, but we think this is a good decision on HTC’s part. Most of HTC’s customers have no interest in unlocked botloders and probably don’t even know what it means.

Let us know what you think of the whole situation. The one piece of information HTC didn’t share was when upcoming phones would be getting access to the web-based bootloader unlocking tool.

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>> We have a feeling some of you may not be pleased with HTC’s decision to continue to ship phones with locked bootloaders, but we think this is a good decision on HTC’s part.

To be honest, I actually think this is the best decision they’ve made in the whole process. Just visit some of the forums in XDA, there are always people who want to do things that they clearly have no idea of. No, I am not referring to people who don’t know the procedures to get something done. I am talking about people who are completely clueless of what they want to do. Like, trying to overclock their phone, but don’t even know what a CWR is. Even worse, some of them would refuse to admit that there’s a learning curve for everything and just want to “get things done” their ways.

counsel

…people have to start somewhere, and I bet even you weren’t born knowing what a bootloader was…

HTC now gives everyone an ability to do what they want, but I’m not sure they won’t track who does what… Read the EULA!

heeros

I wouldn’t put it past them to use this “device identifier token” to keep track of what devices have been unlocked in the event the devices gets sent in for warranty service.

But this is understandable, since they don’t want to pay for fixing something people broke because they did something they shouldn’t have.
I just hope they don’t use this to get out of performing warranty work if the issue is not unlocking related.

But that might just be my skepticism/paranoia talking.

Jokies

I see the XDA will soon find out a way to relock it…

BiGMERF

this ill make many many many people happy…

aj

Actually i like this. You know they really should have done this from the beginning so to speak. I mean they should have either left the bootloaders alone from the start or have done this from the start. As long is it does become available to all phones that have locked bootloaders i will as many others will be happy. This is a nice compromise. Honestly your average android user wont go thru the trouble of unlocking their handset. As it mentioned its for Devs and enthusiast to do it. Which in respects is a minority compared the 100s of thousands of android owners. So kudos to you HTC for finding a good compromise.

AME

Millions of Android users!!!

http://blessayfromamerica.blogspot.com Guy Bailey

probably the wrong place to ask but would this allow me to remove bloatware (specfically Quickoffice) from my N1?

dex

in a nutshell yes, after installing an app that swill enable you to do so. but main reason for unlocked bootloaders is to allow us to install custom roms (custom android operating systems)

codesplice

You can already (very easily) unlock the bootloader of the N1. Google around for “fastboot oem unlock” and you’ll find instructions.

Mason

Sounds like a good solution to me. All of the ordinary phone users still have locked bootloaders for protection against viruses, etc, but there’s a simple way for power users to unlock it. Hopefully, it will put a dampener on clueless people bricking their phones too.

My only question is how you go about “applying the key to your device”. That sounds kinda funny.

Crewone

Too little, too late. Sensation was already unlocked by XDA, so everyone who wants the functionality of an unlocked phone already got it…

AME

The “approved method” may still void your warranty. I give you that it is much safer for the first timer than reading a couple XDA threads though.

If I had the option, I knew the “approved method” was coming out in a month, and I was knew to this sort of thing, I would probably wait. At least you might get some HTC tech support if you are confused.

Richard Yarrell

I support what HTC has decided to do in my book this is the best way to handle this ordeal. This is a reflection of android giving the masses the choice to decide what to do with there devices. I would imagine most people are satisfied with there device exactly the way it is, then for those who are not then they know what they can do to change that. Great job HTC you definitely are the leader in customer satisfaction compared to the other manufacturers

codesplice

I don’t see why all this mess with a web interface is really necessary. The implementation of an unlockable bootloader on the Nexus One was perfect – why bother with all this added complication?

http://www.brainhandles.com Greg

If this means I can take Bejeweled 2 off my phone… YAY!

Austin

I couldn’t find anything about it, but will they be doing this for older phones too? Or just the newest and future phones?

uknowme

I like many others agree this is a great solution. Not everyone is ready to root their device. I’m still contemplating rooting my EVO3D. At the moment I have no reason to, but who knows down the line I might just want to freeze the bloatware. Maybe even overclock to 1.5. I’m just happy that I and thousands of others have the option